“Articles of faith”? Questioning the assumptions of disability welfare and benefits
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301311305241 |
| Published date | 22 February 2013 |
| Date | 22 February 2013 |
| Pages | 4-7 |
| Author | Sophie Corlett |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Policy Watch
‘‘Articles of faith’’? Questioning
the assumptions of disability welfare
and benefits
Sophie Corlett
Abstract
Purpose – The Policy Watch series reflects on recent and forthcoming developments in mental health
policyacross the UK. This paper aims to reviewthe impact of welfare reformson people with mental health
problems.As well as focusingat specific problemswith the current system,the paper criticisesthe general
‘‘direction of travel’’ in welfarepolicy and calls for a rethink of fundamentalassumptions that underpinthis.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews and summarizes recent and longer term
developments in national welfare and benefits policy in England and Wales and their implications for
people with mental health problems.
Findings – The paper describes how key components of the current disability benefits system are not
working for people with mental health problems and also how the design of welfare reform over recent
years has been ineffective for supporting the health and employment aspirations of people with mental
health problems.
Originality/value – The paper updates and discusses knowledge on recent and forthcoming welfare
reform and cites recent evidence from Government.
Keywords Mental health services, Welfare reform, Benefits, Employment, Work capability assessment,
Employment and support allowance, United Kingdom
Paper type General review
Over recent years, one of the biggest issues raised with Mind by people with mental health
problems has been the problems they are experiencing with the benefits system. We hear
daily from people who have had a bad experience of their assessment of eligibility; who feel
that the system has effectively dismissed their health problems as insignificant; who do
not think they have been put on the right benefit and are appealing the decision; who do not
feel they are getting the right support to get back to work; or who have lost their benefits after
being sanctioned for not meeting the requirements put on them.
Thesestories are backedup by welfare rightsadvisers working withinthe network of localMinds
who,despite unprecedenteddemand for their services, arehelping many people to accessthe
rightbenefits first time and helpingmany more to rectifyincorrect benefitsdecisions throughthe
appeals system.Disturbingly,they also tell us that the current systemis pushing many people
with mental healthproblems further away from work rather than closerto it.
Benefits and mental health
Considering the significant proportion of benefits applicants and claimants who have mental
health problems, it is essential that the welfare and benefits system works for this group:
PAGE 4
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 17 NO. 1 2013, pp. 4-7, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301311305241
Sophie Corlett is Director of
External Relations at Mind,
London, UK.
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